The Block’s Shaynna Blaze will sing at Carols by Candlelight

SHAYNNA Blaze has had a massive year on TV with The Block and a lot more — and now she’s wrapping up the year with a big bang.

EMBARGOED to Dec 21, 2014, Sunday TV Guides first use. Shaynna Blaze for Carols by Candlelight. Picture: Supplied

THE LAST WORD …

WITH SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA, THE BLOCK and CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT’S SHAYNNA BLAZE

“This is my first involvement with Carols by Candlelight. I get to sing a beautiful carol — and I’m very excited. Because my background is in jazz I’m singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas in a jazz version.

Singing and design came around the same time for me. When I was studying design I was singing as well (in a trio with a couple of friends playing at local pubs in Melbourne before discovering her love of jazz).

Design as in ‘art forms’ has always been in my life. I had a crafty Dad and my aunty was an artist and my Mum did a smidge of musical theatre so music was in our life all the time too.

So one didn’t come before the other, they’ve always been a part of my life.

This year has been one of my busiest years ever. Last year I thought “Oh my god, it just can’t get busier’.

This year I do feel like I have caught up to February at the moment.

I wrote down a list of all the things I’ve done this year and even my mind is spinning.

SHAYNNA BLAZE: The original Duracell bunny

The Block judge ... Shaynna Blaze is returning to TV for Carols by Candlelight. Picture: Supplied

I opened the ASTRAs (subscription television awards) and sang at them, won favourite female at that, went to the Logies where both The Block and Selling Houses Australia were nominated, shot three series of The Block (two have gone to air and we are filming the third at the moment, so that’s crazy), finished off 13 eps of Selling Houses Australia at the beginning of the year and we’ve almost finished the series now.

Oh, and I’ve written my second book and I’m sure there’s something else in there that I’ve forgotten.

There’s no rest. I stop Christmas Day when maybe I fall asleep in my dinner.

It’s a great place to be in. I’m living the dream of doing all the things I ever dreamt of. I’m grateful for it and pinching myself. I still have my design practice. I get to design, do TV, sing and write and I can’t believe it.

Big year ... hosts of The Lifestyle Channel's, Selling Houses Australia Shaynna Blaze, Andrew Winter, and Charlie Albone. Picture: Supplied

Being invited to sing at Carols — it’s such a big forum. I’ve always wanted to do it.

It’s something even if you are not physically there you have it on in the background all night on the television. My kids have grown up with it so to be a part of it is mind-blowing.

And I get to hang out with some awesome singers so that’s pretty cool.

Christmas Day we have people over for drinks early, family over for lunch and Christmas night we just collapse.

Boxing Day we have a big day — everyone brings leftovers and we gather and chill.

A quieter next year isn’t going to happen. I wasn’t prepared for this year, but going into 2015 I know what I’m in for and can honestly say I know what I’m, doing til this time next year.

I am trying to squeeze a few long weekends in somewhere.”

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

WEDNESDAY, 8PM, NINE

Originally published as The Block’s Shaynna Blaze will sing at Carols by Candlelight